The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-08
The President Writes Long Political
Letter Declining to Visit st. Louis.
Not Be Subjected to Insult. Nor the Heal
ing Wounds of War Again Torn Open.
A Document Which Is Expected to In
crease His Chances of denomination
And Which May Be Regarded as a Part of the
Cleveland Scheme for Securing Second
Term as President of the United States.

Term as President of the United States.
wII5NoT GO TO ST. LOUIS.
Presidsht Cleveland Writes n Letter De.
| ciining to Visit that City.
| Sr. LoUrs, July THE following letter wat
| printed here this morning:
"ExECuTIvE MANSION.
| WASHINGTON, July a, 1887
/ "Hon David r. Francis. Mayor and hartman:
"My Dear Sir-When received the extremely
cordial and gratifying invitation from the citi-
| zens of St. Louis, rendered by a number of her
representative men. to visit that city during the
| national eneampmenf of the Grand Army of ths
/ Republic, I had been contemplating for some
/ time the acceptance of an invitation from that
organization to the sama effect and had consid-
cred the pleasure which it would afford me If IL
| should be possible. to meet not only members oil
/ the Grand Army, but the people Of ST Louis
| and other cities in the West which the occasion
| would give me opportunity to visit The ex.
actions of my public duties felt to he SO uncer.
| tain, however, that, when first confronted by
| the delegation of which you were the head.
expected to do no more st that time than TO prom
| ise the consideration o. the double invitation
| rendered me. and express the pleasure it would
| give me to accept the same thereafter, IL posi-
presentation reinforced by the heartiness of the
| people who surrounded you. SO impressed me
| that I could not resist the feeling which
prompted me to assure you the spot that
| would be with you and the Grand Army OF ths
Republic at the time designated. IL nothing hap
pened in the meantime to absolutely prevent
my leaving Washington.
Immediately upon the public announcement
| of this conclusion. expressions emapating from
certain important members of the Grand Armv
of the Republic, and increasing in volume and
virulence, constrained me to review nv aecspt-
ance of these Invitations. The expressions re-
ferred to go to the extent of declaring that
would be unwelcome guest at the time and
place of the national encampment This state
ment is based, we'll as ! can judge, upon GER
tain official acts of mine involving important
public interests. done under the restraints and
obligations of nv oath of Office which do not
appear to accord with the wishes of some mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic. / re-
fuse to believe that this organization, founded
upon patriotic ideas, composed very largely OF
men entitled to lasting honor and consideration.
and whose crowning glory it should be that they
are American citizens well as veteran soldiers,
deems it q part of its mission TO compass any
object purpose by attempting 60 intiml-
date the executive or coerce those charged
with making and executing the laws And yet
the expressions to which / have referred lndi-
cate such prevalence of unfriendly feeling and
such menace to an occasion which should be
harmonious, peaceful and cordial that they can
not be ignored beg you to understand that
am not conscious of any act OF mine which
should make me fear to meet the Grand Army
of the Republic any other assemblage OF INV
fellow citizens. The account OF my othelal
stewardship is always ready for presentation TO
nv countrynen. I should not be frank II /
failed to confess while d,sclalming all resent
ment that / have been hurt by the unworthy
and wanton attacks upon me growing out or tina
matter, and the reckless manner In which my
actions and motives have been misrepresented
both publicly and privately. for which, however.
the Grand Army of the Republic. as body, "a
by means responsible.
ssThe threats of personal violence and harm in
case undertake the trip in question, which
scores of misguided, unbalanced men under the
stimulation or excited feeling have made, are
not even considered. Rather than abandon my
visit to the West and disappont your citizens,
might, il alone were concerned. submit to the
.iA 1v fnA
would be helplessly subjected il present at the
encampment; but should bear with me there
the peoples highest Office, the dignity of which
must protect: aud / believe that neither the
Grand Army of the Republic as an organiza-
tion, anything like majority of its MEM
bers would ever encourage any scandaious at
tack upon it. If, however, among the mam oer-
ship of this body there are some, as certainly
seems to be the case. determined to denounce
me and my official acts at the national encamp-
ment believe they should be permitted to do
SO unrestrained by my preaence as
guest of their organization, or as
meeting is held. A number of Grand Army
posts have signifed their intention. / am in
formed to remain away from the encampment
in case i visit tho city at that time. Without
considering the merit of such an excuse, think
that ought not to the cause of such non
attendance. The time and place OK the encamp-
ment were fixed long before my invitations were
received. Those desiring to participate in its
proceedings should be first regarded. and nothing
should be permitted to interfere with their in
tentions
''Another consideration of more Importance
than all others. remains to be noticed. The fact
referred to by you when you verbally pre-
sented the invitation of the citizens OF ST. Louis
that the coming encampment OF the Grand Army
of the Republic would be the first held in
Southern State / suppose this fact was men
toned pleasing indication OF the fraternal
feeling fast gaining ground throughout the entire
land, and hailed by every patriotic citizen as an
earnest that the Union has really and in fact
been saved in sentiment and spirit, with all the
benefits it vouchsafes to united people !
cannot rid myself of the belief that the
least discord this propitious occasion
might retard the progress of the sentiment OF
common brotherhood which the Grand Army OF
ths Republic has good opportunity 10 in
crease and foster. / certainly ought not to be
the cause of such dscord in anv event or upon
any pretext It seems to me that you and the
citizens of st. Louis are entitled to this unre-
served statement of the conditions which have
constrained me to forego my contemplated visit
and to withdraw my acceptance of your invita-
tion. My presence in your city at the time you
have indicated can be of little moment compared
with the Importance of a cordial and harmonious
entertainment of your other guests | assure
you that abandon nv plan without the least
personal feeling except regret, constrained there
to by sense of duty, actuated by desire to
save any embarrassment to the people of st.
Louis or their expected guests, and with O heart
full of grateful appreciation OF the sincere and
unaffected kindness of your citizens. Hoping
usefulness and that it's proceedings may illus
trate the highest patriotism OF American citizen
ship am yours very sincerely
"GRovER CLEVELAND"
The Grand Army Invitation.
WASHINGTON July 7.-Following is a copy of
the letter relating to the Presidents proposed
visit to St Louis. which has not yet been made
public. 1t is the letter inviting him to be pres